Production of fastener-element-free gaps in slide fastener chain



P. FASCIANQ PRODUCTION OF FASTENER-ELEMENT-FREE A ril .14, 1964 GAPS IN SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1962 INVENTOR. P4 TR/C'K FASC/flA/O P. FASCIANO PRODUCTION OF FASTENER-ELEMENT-FREE GAPS IN SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN April 14, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16, 1962 INVENTOR. PH TR/CK H95 C'lfiWO 4 T TOR/V575 April 1 1964 P. FASCIANO PRODUCTION OF FASTENER-ELEMENT-FREE GAPS IN SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 16, 1962 INVENTOR. Pfl TRICK F/QSC/AWO HTTOR/VEYS April 14, 1964 P. FA'sclANo PRODUCTION OF FASTENER-ELEMENT-FREE GAPS IN SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 16, 1962 INVENTOR. PflTR/C'K F/75C/14/V0 HTTORNEYG United States Patent New Jersey Filed Nov. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 238,119 13 Claims. (Cl. 29-408) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing fastener-elerncnt-free gaps in continuous slide fastener chain having plastic coil filaments fastener elements.

In the manufacture .of slide fasteners (zippers), there is first produced so called continuous slide fastener chain, this designating a long length of two interengaged stringers, consisting of two fastener tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges two rows of fastener elements, the coupling parts of which are interlocked or interengaged, thereby acting to hold or fasten the tapes together. From such a continuous chain, desired measured individual lengths of slide fasteners are made, each comprising a measured length of two tapes carrying the two rows of interengaged fastener elements, the top and bottom ends of the slide fastener tapes having, however, element-free gaps, the fastener elements carrying a slider, and the top and bottom ends of the slider elements at the inner ends of the gaps being provided, respectively, with top and bottom end stops.

A step in the manufacture of the individual lengths of slide fasteners fromthe continuous slide fastener chain comprises cutting or excising at each of spaced regions along the slide fastener chain, a group of interengaged fastener elements from the chain to form a fastener-element-free gap, thereby forming the element-free gap for the top end of one embryo slide fastener and the elementfree gap for the bottom end of the next adjacent embryo slide fastener.

The present invention is directed particularly to a method of and apparatus for producing such element-free gaps in continuous slide fastener chain in which the slide fastener elements comprise plastic, such as nylon, spirals or coils. In such fastener chain, each tape carries a fastener comprising a continuous length of a coil filament made of a plastic, i.e. nylon, each coil of which is formed with acoupling part (for engaging or interlocking with a mating coupling part of a companion fastener), the said coils of the fastener being attached to the tape by a longitudinal line of stitches. In the slide fastener involved in the present invention, the coil filament is stitch-attached to one side of the tape.

The prime object of the present invention resides in the provision of a method of and apparatus for producing faStener-eIernent-free gaps in continuous fastener chain of the nature described, characterized by the following principles and advantages:

(1) A group of interlocked or interengaged coils are cleanly and completely removed along a length of the chain corresponding to the free gap to he produced, without leaving any loose coil parts in the tapes at the gap, thereby effecting a scrapless cutting operation;

(2) The operation of removing the group of coils to produce the gap is carried out without affecting the condition of the stitches used for their attachment to the tapes, and without in any way marring or damaging the tapes, theneby effecting an element cutting operation while maintaining the full integral condition or integrity of the resulting fastener chain; and

(3) The rdevised method is characterized by simple and effective process steps and the apparatus therefor is structured for rapid and automatic machine operation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing object and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the production of fastener-elementfree gaps in slide fastener chain as sought to be defined in the appended claims; taken together with the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the essential parts of the apparatus employed in practicing the method of the present invention, the parts of the said apparatus being shown in an exploded condition;

FIGS. 2 to 5 are largely diagrammatic views depicting the sequential steps of the method and the relation between the essential parts of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a view of a section showing one side of the slide fastener chain as produced by the method and apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the opposite side of a portion of the slide fastener chain in the performance of one of the steps of the method;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention, the same being shown on a scale somewhat smaller than the scale of the parts shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the die section of the apparatus of the present invention, the same being shown on a scale enlarged with reference to the scale of the parts shown in FIGS. 8 and 9; and

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the punch section of the apparatus shown to the same scale as that employed for E16. 10 of the drawings.

The continuous slide fastener chain used in the practice of the present invention may first be described. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2. and 6 .of the drawings, such continuous slide fastener chain comprises laterally spaced tapes 1, t carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges fastener elements of continuous plastic, such as nylon, coil filaments f, f are attached to the tapes by longitudinal lines or rows of stitches s, s, the said stitches interlacing the individual coils c, c of the coil filaments j, The coil filaments are stitch-attached to the tapes on one side of the tapes and are covered on the other side of the tapes by the longitudinal edges of the tapes, as clearly depicted in the indicated figures of the drawings.

The method of the invention is best depicted in FIGS; 1 to 7 of the drawings. The continuous slide fastener chain is moved to the operating station as depicted in FIG. 1 of the drawings for cutting or excising at each of predetermined spaced regions along the length ofthe slide fastener chain a group of interengaged fastener elements from the chain to form a fastener-element-free gap g, best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings, thereby forming the element-free gap for the top end e of an em bryo slide fastener and the element-free gap for the bottom end e' of the next adjacent embryo slide fastener.

The method of producing the fastener-element-free gap in the described slide fastener chain is best depicted in FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawings. The said method comprises the steps of cutting a group of coils c, c of the interengaged coil filaments f, along a length of the chain corresponding to the free gap to be produced, the cutting being along said length only at one side 20, 20 of the circumference of each of the coils of said group, as seen by the progression of the cutting operation depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, and then withdrawing the still interengaged group of the now cut coils c, c from the stitches s, s by way of the formed cuts 20. 20 in said coils, this step being depicted in the sequential views of FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The end coils 0 c of said group of cut coils at each end of the gap g are then cut at theopposite side of the circumference of said coils to produce the cuts 22, 22 (see particularly FIG. 6), thereby completely severing the end coils of the group from the fastener chain. The still interlocked group of cut coils are then removed from the cutting station by the movement of the continuous chain from the cutting station.

FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7 depict the essential parts of the apparatus for carrying out this method. This apparatus comprises a punch generally designated as P cooperating with a die generally designated as D, the punch comprising a cutting punch 24 located between a front pressure pad 26 and a rear pressure pad 28 and the die comprising a die pressure pad 30 in alignment with the cutting punch 24 located between a front die block 32 and a rear die block 34. The coacting surfaces of the punch pressure pads and the die blocks form the means for positioning and holding the tapes t, t of the slide fastener chain in a given plane as clearly depicted in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings. The cutting punch 24 movable between the punch pressure pads 26 and 28 is movable in the space between the longitudinal edges of the tapes and in a direction normal to the plane of said tapes as depicted sequentially in FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawings. The die pad 30 is movable in the same direction as that of the cutting punch as is also depicted in these figures. The blocks are fixed in position; and the punch pressure pads 26 and 28 are moved to an extent with reference to the cutting punch 24 to permit engagement with and release of the tapes t, t.

In carrying out the steps of the method these described parts of the apparatus are operated as follows: The punch pressure pads 26 and 28 are moved into engagement with the tapes 2 and t for positioning and holding the tapes of the slide fastener chain firmly against the upper faces of the die blocks 32 and 34. The cutting punch 24 is then moved in the following step sequence: from the position of FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 3 for first cutting a group of coils of the interengaged coil filaments (along the length corresponding to the free gap to be produced), the cutting being along said length only at one side of the circumference of each of the coils of said group (thereby producing the cuts 20, 20 heretofore referred to); the cutting punch being then continued in its movement for effecting the gripping of the interengaged cut coil section c between the cutting punch 24 and the die pad 30 as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings; the further continued movement of the punch 24, the die pad 30 and the now gripped section therebetween effecting the withdrawal of the interengaged group of cut coils from the stitches s, s by way of the formed cuts 20, 20, best depicted sequentially in FIGS. 4 and of the drawings. It will be understood that the cut coil section 0 is firmly lodged in this step between the cutting punch 24 and the die pad 30 and forms at the same time the means for transmitting motion of the cutting punch to the die pad. Preferably, to best effectuate this action, the cutting punch 24 is formed along its length with spaced blades 36 and 38 and with a coil receiving recess 40 between the blades, this structure of the cutting punch functioning to effect the described coaction of the parts. The completing of the cutting of the end coils c 0 is effected as shown in FIG. 7 by the coaction of the end 24' (one such end being shown in FIG. 7) of the cutting punch 24 with die parts 42, 44 of the die (as will be further described more in detail hereinafter).

FIG. 1 shows in an exploded form the essential parts of the apparatus just described, the parts thereof being designated by the reference characters employed in connection with FIGS. 2 to 7 of the drawings. Associated with the die blocks 32, 34 and supported thereby (as will further appear hereinafter) is a blade element 46 arranged in advance of the cutting punch 24 acting as a plow for engaging the longitudinal edges of the tapes to spread (upturn) the same to make clearance for the cutting punch, as is best depicted in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The continuous chain is moved into the gap cutting station in the direction indicated by the arrow 48 (FIG. 1).

The tapes t, t move in engagement with the faces 50 and 52 of the die blocks, the said die blocks being recessed at one end at 54 and 56 and being recessed at its other end at 58 and 6th for leading (at the first end) and for spacially accommodating the coil filaments f, f. The ends of these recessed portions define the end cutting die parts 42 and 44 previously referred to. The die pad 30 is shaped as shown in FIG. 1, so as to fit into and be movable within a channel in the die blocks defined by the spaces 62 and 64 formed in the contiguous sides of the die blocks, the punch engaging surface 66 of the die pressure pad being configurated as depicted in FIG. 1 for cooperation with the cutting edges of the cutting punch 36, 38 and with the die parts 42, 44 so as to effect all of the cutting operations described. The bottom of the die pressure pad is formed with the side wings 68, 68 to define stop means for engaging the undersurface of the die blocks (so as to limit the upward movement thereof). With the die pressure pad is associated a pressure pad plug 70 and a spring 72 in a manner to be further detailed hereinafter.

The cutting punch 24 is formed at its upper part with wing sections 74, 74 for supporting the same in a punch holder and is freely movable at its upper end in the space between the tines 76, 7d of a pressure pad plug 78 with which is associated a pressure pad spring 84 (in a manner to be detailed hereinafter), the tines 76, 76 of the plug being arranged to engage the upper faces 82, 84 of the front pressure pad 26 and the rear pressure pad 23 respectively. The lower faces of the punch pressure pads are preferably ribbed as at 86, 88 respectively and are formed at its bottom end with the recesses 99 and 92 respectively for accommodating the upturned edges of the tapes (see also FIG. 2). The rear punch pressure pad 23 is also formed with the side flanges 94 and 96 which define therebetween a channel for lodging and guiding the movement of the cutting punch 24. The cutting punch is provided with a circular orifice 98 and the punch pressure pads are provided with elongated orifices 101'? and 102 respectively for a purpose to be later described.

The organized punch and die apparatus is shown in FiGS. 8 to 11 of the drawings. The cutting punch 24 and the punch pressure pads 26 and 28 are mounted in a punch carrier 1 34; and the die blocks 32 and 34 and the die pressure pad 36 are mounted in a die shoe 1%. The die shoe is fixed in position and is provided with two columns 168 and 11h; and the punch carrier 104 is formed at its top with a post 112 and at its underside with two bosses 114 and 116 bored to receive the columns 108 and 119, the punch carrier 15M (and its carried parts) being movable relatively to the die shoe 106, movement being guided by the columns 1% and 110 and the bosses 114, 116.

The cutting punch 24 is fixedly carried by the punch carrier and is mounted therein by being held in a cutting punch holder 118, a top backing plate 120 and a punch cap 122, the punch cap being secured to the punch holder by means of the screws 124, 124, the punch holder being in turn secured to the body of the punch carrier by means of the screws 126, 126. The spring is mounted in a bore 128 in the carrier post 112 surmounted by a plug 134 and is active against the bifurcated plug 78 for spring loading the punch pressure pads 26 and 28. A dowel pin 132 held firmly in circular orifices 134 and 136 in the punch holder cap 122 and the rear punch holder 118 is received in the clearance orifice 98 of the cutting punch and is loosely received in the elongated orifices and 162 of the pressure pads 26 and 28.

The die blocks 32 and 34 are fixedly attached to the die shoe 1% by means of the screws 138, 138. The die pressure pad St? is spring loaded in the die, and to this end is engaged by the pressure plug 70, movably mounted in the die shoe and acted upon by the spring 72, which latter is backed by a spring plate 14!) attached by means of the screws 142, 142 to the die shoe 106 as clearly shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings; a thrust ring 144 is interposed between a flange of the plug 70 and the die shoe. The die blocks 32 and 34 are surmounted by a slide fastener guide 146 secured to the die block 32 by a screw 148, the guide being formed with a space 150 for receiving the continuous fastener chain which is moved into the punch-die assembly, the said fastener guide being formed midway its length with the blade element 46 which projects into the space 150 and which acts, as aforesaid, as a plow for separating (upturning) the adjacent edges of the tapes to make clearance for the operation of the cutting punch.

In the operation of this punch and die assembly the punch carrier 104 is moved between an upper position shown in dash-dotted lines and a lower position shown in full lines in FIG. 8 of the drawings.

In one embodiment of this assembly such movement may be over a stroke of A of an inch. The cutting punch 24 (fixed to the punch carrier) therefore also has a stroke of A; of an inch. The pressure pads 26 and 23 spring loaded in the punch carrier, and movable relatively to the cutting punch 24 are moved under the spring pressure of the spring 80 a distance in one embodiment of the structure of about .015 inches when the punch carrier is moved from its upper to its lower position, whereupon the pressure pads 26 and 28 firmly clamp the tapes 2, t against the faces 50, 52 of the die blocks 32 and 34. In the operation, the punch carrier with its cutting punch is continued in its movement from the upper to the lower position shown in FIG. 8 for the described gap cutting operation, the cutting punch 24 in such movement effecting the movement of the die pressure pad 30 through the intermediation of the severed cut coupling (or head) parts of the cut coils, against the spring pressure of the die spring 72. Upon return movement of the punch carrier to its upper position, the punch pads 26, 28 are raised from the tapes, permitting the feeding movement of the continuous chain for the next cutting operation, the die pressure plate 39 being returned to its upper position by the die spring 72, the limit of the upper position of the die pressure pad being determined by the wings 68, 68 of the die pressure pad.

The practice of the process of the present invention and the operation of the apparatus thereof and the attainment of the described objects of the invention will it is believed be fully apparent from the above detailed description thereof. It will be further apparent that many changes may be made in the steps of the process and the details of the apparatus without departing from the principles of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of producing a fastener-element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having laterally spaced tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges fastener elements of continuous plastic coil filaments which are attached by stitches to the tapes, the coils of which filaments have coupling parts which are interengaged to fasten the tapes together, the said method comprising the steps of cutting a group of coils of said interengaged coil filaments along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced, the cutting being along said length only at one side of the circumference of each of the coils of said group, and then withdrawing the still interengaged group of said out coils from the said stitches by way of the formed cuts in said coils.

2. The method of producing a fastener-element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having laterally spaced tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges fastener elements of continuous plastic coil filaments which are attached by stitches to the tapes, the coils of which filaments have coupling parts which are interengaged to fasten the tapes together, the said method comprising the steps of cutting a group of coils of said interengaged coil filaments along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced, the cutting being along said length only at one side of the circumference of each of the coils of said group, then withdrawing the still interengaged group of said out coils from the said stitches by way of the formed cuts in said coils, and cutting the end coils of said group of cut coils at the opposite side of the circumference of said end coils.

3. The method of producing a fastener-element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having laterally spaced tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges at one side of the tapes fastener elements of continuous plastic coil filaments which are attached by longitudinal rows of stitches to the tapes, the coils of which filaments have coupling parts which are interengaged to fasten the tapes together, the said method comprising the steps of cutting a group of coils of said interengaged coil filaments along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced, the cutting being along said length adjacent the stitches and only at one side of the circumference of each of the coils of said group, then withdrawing the still interengaged group of said out coils from the said stitches by Way of the formed cuts in said coils and cutting all the end coils of said group of cut coils at the opposite side of the circumference of said end coils.

4. An apparatus for producing a fastener-element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having laterally spaced tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges fastener elements of continuous plastic coil filaments which are attached by stitches to the tapes, the coils of which filaments have coupling parts which are interengaged to fasten the tapes together, said apparatus comprising means for cutting a group of coils of said interengaged coil filaments along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced, the cutting being along said length only at one side of the circumference of each of the coils of said group, and means for then gripping the still interengaged group of cut coils at one side of the formed cuts therein and moving the said group of cut coils in a direction to withdraw the same from said stitches by way of the other side of said formed cuts.

5. An apparatus for producing a fastener-element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having laterally spaced tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges fastener elements of continuous plastic coil filaments which are attached by stitches to the tapes, the coils of which filaments have coupling parts which are interengaged to fasten the tapes together, said apparatus comprising means for cutting a group of coils of said interengaged coil filaments along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced, the cutting being along said length only at one side of the circumference of each of the coils of said group, means for then gripping the still interengaged group of cut coils at one side of the formed cuts therein and moving the said group of cut coils in a direction to withdraw the same from said stitches by way of the other side of said formed cuts, and means for cutting the end coils of said group of cut coils at the opposite side of the circumference of said end coils.

6. An apparatus for producing a fastener-element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having laterally spaced tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges fastener elements of continuous plastic coil filaments which are attached by stitches to the tapes, the coils of which filaments have coupling parts which are interengaged to fasten the tapes together, said apparatus comprising means for positioning and holding the tapes of the slide fastener chain in a given plane, a cutting punch movable in the space between the adjacent longitudinal edges of the tapes and in a direction normal to said plane, a die pad aligned with and movable in the same direction as that of the cutting punch, and means for moving the cutting punch in the following step sequence: for first cutting a group of coils of said interengaged coil filaments along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced, the cutting being along said length only at one side of the circumference of each of the coils of said group, then for gripping the interengaged cut coils between the cutting punch and the die pad, and then for moving the die pad and the thereby gripped coils to withdraw the interengaged group of cut coils from the said stitches by Way of the formed cuts in said coils.

7. An apparatus for producing a fastener-element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having laterally spaced tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges fastener elements of continuous plastic coil filaments which are attached by stitches to the tapes, the coils of which filaments have coupling parts which are interengaged to fasten the tapes together, said apparatus comprising means for positioning and holding the tapes of the slide fastener chain in a given plane, a cutting punch movable in the space between the adjacent longitudinal edges of the tapes and in a direction normal to said plane, a die pad aligned With and movable in the same direction as that of the cutting punch, means for moving the cutting punch in the following step sequence: for first cutting a group of coils of said interengaged coil filaments along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced, the cutting being along said length only at one side of the circumference of each of the coils of said group, then for gripping the interengaged cut coils between the cutting punch and the die pad, and then for moving the die pad and the thereby gripped coils to withdraw the interengaged group of cut coils from the said stitches by way of the formed cuts in said coils, and die means cooperating with said cutting punch located for cutting the end coils of said group of cut coils at the opposite side of the circumference of said end coils.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the means for moving the cutting punch is a punch carrier to which the punch is fixed, and in which the die pad is movable in a die and is spring loaded therein for cooperation with the cutting punch.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said means for positioning and holding the tapes comprises a fixed die and a cooperating movable punch pressure pad; the said punch pressure pad being spring mounted in the means for moving the cutting punch and being movable relative to said cutting punch.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the fixed die includes a plow element arranged in advance of the cutting punch for engaging the longitudinal edges of the tapes to spread the same to make clearance for the cutting punch.

11. An apparatus for producing a fastener-element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having laterally spaced tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges fastener elements of continuous plastic foil filaments which are attached by stitches to the tapes, the coils of which filaments have coupling parts which are interengaged to fasten the tapes together, said apparatus comprising means including a die and a punch pressure pad for positioning and holding therebetween the tapes of the slide fastener chain in a given plane, a punch carrier, a cutting punch fixed to said punch carrier and movable in the space between the adjacent longitudinal edges of the tapes in a direction normal to said plane, a die pad aligned with the cutting punch and movable in said die in the same direction as that of the cutting punch, the said punch carrier with its cutting punch being movable relative to said die in the following step sequence: for first cutting a group of coils of said interengaged coil filaments along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced, the cutting being along said length only at one side of the circumference of each of the coils of said group, then for gripping the interengaged cut coils between the cutting punch and the die pad, and then for moving the die pad and the thereby gripped coils to withdraw the interengaged group of cut coils from the said stitches by Way of the formed cuts in said coils.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the said cutting punch is formed along its length with spaced blades and with a coil receiving recess between the blades for effecting the cutting of the coils and the gripping of the cut coils, and is formed at its ends with a cutting edge which cooperates with cutting edges of the die for cutting the end coils of the group of cut coils at another side of the circumference of said end coils.

13. In the apparatus of claim 11, means for spring mounting the punch pressure pad in said punch carrier, and means for spring mounting the die pad in said die.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING A FASTENER-ELEMENT-FREE GAP IN A CONTINUOUS SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN HAVING LATERALLY SPACED TAPES CARRYING ALONG THEIR ADJACENT LONGITUDINAL EDGES FASTENER ELEMENTS OF CONTINUOUS PLASTIC COIL FILAMENTS WHICH ARE ATTACHED BY STITCHES TO THE TAPES, THE COILS OF WHICH FILAMENTS HAVE COUPLING PARTS WHICH ARE INTERENGAGED TO FASTEN THE TAPES TOGETHER, THE SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CUTTING A GROUP OF COILS OF SAID INTERENGAGED COIL FILAMENTS ALONG A LENGTH CORRESPONDING TO THE FREE GAP TO BE PRODUCED, THE CUTTING BEING ALONG SAID LENGTH ONLY AT ONE SIDE OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF EACH OF THE COILS OF SAID GROUP, AND THEN WITHDRAWING THE STILL 